St Helens’ Tommy Makinson surprises fan as he goes for pain-free Grand Final glory
TOMMY Makinson hopes for a much less painful route to glory this year.
For despite his drop goal that helped seal St Helens’ 2019 success, he was grimacing through a dislocated shoulder.
And there should be no divided family loyalties, even though he is facing the team he grew up supporting.
Winger Makinson starred as Saints lifted the Super League trophy last year by beating Salford at Old Trafford.
However, that was despite an agonising injury blow that ended his Great Britain hopes – now to give his relatives reason to grin, even though they live in Wigan.
He said: “Dropping the goal would be nice, popping my shoulder again wouldn’t!
“I was disappointed more than anything because I’d been selected for the Great Britain tour. I was devastated about that and I couldn’t really have an effect on that game. I couldn’t take a carry on and I was in a lot of pain.
“I don’t think Saints will be calling on me to put one over. One could hit the corner flag and one could go over. I was lucky that day that one sailed between the sticks.
“All my family and a lot of my friends are from Wigan but it means nothing. In any Wigan-Saints derby it doesn’t matter if your mum comes from Wigan or if your best mate plays for them.
“My dad grew up being a big Wigan fan, bigger than any. All I remember growing up was watching Wigan DVDs and going to the old stadium and after they moved with my dad.
“If it was Wigan v someone else, they’d want Wigan to win but their son and grandson is playing against them in a final. All my family wants me to win.”
Makinson, who surprised Saints fan Julie Houghton with a Zoom call in the build-up after linking up with Dacia, has starred under boss Kristian Woolf after being brilliant under predecessor Justin Holbrook.
Now for one last push to send retiring legend James Graham out a winner, even though he is adamant it is not all about him.
The 29-year-old added: “He’d absolutely hate it to be. He doesn’t do things like that and he won’t allow it to be.
“He’s not the type of person to dwell on his last game. He just does Jammer, that’s why he’s so loved. It was a stroke of genius getting him in. People don’t see the full package – he’s unbelievable on and off the field. What a bloke.”
*Visit Dacia’s YouTube channel to find out more.